New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-13

THE INTERNATIONAL PRISON CONGRESS
Year after year the International Prison
Congress meets, and the result is the bringing
together of an unequallcd collection of expert
mental facts, carefully collatcd statistics and
thoroughly studied conclusions. The good
already effected through the various prison
reform associations represented at these meet
ings is enough to prove the value Of the work,
and though 1T is found by experience that
custom and conservatism arc the most formid-
able barriers in the way Of improvement, the
changes for the better are important enough
to justify hope for the future. AT the meet
ing OF the Prison Congress at Toronto ycster-
day an interesting address was delivered by
cx- President X. Il. Hayes In it he gave a
succinct account Of the various reforms sought
By the Congress, and pointed out some Of the
difficulties in the way. So far this and,
indeed, most other countries are concerned,
the lack of system in the county jails has
proved most embarrassing TO the rcformers.
II may, indeed, be said that the penal question
and the educational question are affected by
kindred obstacles. In all endcavors TO improve
our higher education, and to raise the standard
Of the colleges TO the university grade, We arc
hindercd by the prevailing infcriority OF the
primary school courses. In like manner
all attempts to make the penitcntiarics places
Of reform and probation are interfcrcd with
by the defective methods which make the
county jails training schools for criminals.
in wcl-ordcrcd penal system no places OF
confinement would be left out Of the plan
Discipline and regulation would begin at the
county Jail and proceed through all inter
mediate stages TO the State prison. So only is
it possible fairly to test the doctrines of pen
ologsts. So only is it possible to make penal
confinement reformatory. Under the exist
ing loose and unsystematic arrangements most
county jails remain little better than the COM
mon prisons Of half a century ago. Some Of
them, and these too often in the largest cities,
arc simply clearinghouse for criminals,
where all but those charged with capital
offences can associate freely together, exchange
condolences and enlarge their criminal knOwl-
edge. In many cases there is not even care
taken to separate the young lawbreallcrs from
the mature, and in far too many so-callcd
Houses of Correction an unintclligently severe
discipline contrasts with freedom of associa-
ton productive of the most depraving effects.
One consequence Of this want Of system and
harmony is that by the time criminal reaches
the pententiary he is generally so hardened
and habituatcd to the criminal life as TO be
very difficult of treatment. In not few cases
he is, in fact, irrcclaimable, and thus tho
most pulling problem encountered by re-
formers.
But the state Of the county jails is not the
onlv hindrance to reform. A more serious
one because it cannot be cured by legislation
is tho position held by society toward the dis
charged convict. This position is one of
invcteratc distrust and antipathy and despite
all argument and appeal it does not appear
to undergo any modification. OF course such
an attitude neutIaizcs the efforts Of rcformers,
for il is Of little use to III criminals for honest
living to give them handicraft. to incline
them to uprightncss, if the moment they are
free they are made TO realize that society has
not pardoned and never will pardon them
that wherever they go they must drag their
disgrace and forever be liable to ruinous OK
posture that men Of their own class will BIO
the first to demand their discharge; and that
those who most condemn their past faults
will so act as to drive them back into criminal
ways. This is the most terrible hindrance TO
reform and it is so formidable and so intract-
able that sometimes IL compels doubt as TO
the usefulness Of all the phiIanthropic labor
so nobly bestowed upon prison reform. Per-
haps an active propaganda is needed, to stir
up public thought TO make the people as n
Whole rcalizo and reflect upon the cruelty OF
the prevailing attitude toward discharged
prisoners. But until some change can be
wrought in the situation at this point, tho
work Of penal reform must continue to be cx-
ccedingly laborious and disappoi tingIy slow,
even IL or when.a more comprehensive dis.
ciplinary method is applied TO all prisons.
The good work OF abolishing grade railroad |